I'm having trouble deploying DSMB...

[BoltSnap]

But this 16ft dsmb has an open bottom just like the shorter ones and it seems like it's meant to be deployed in water from depth.

What you are saying isn't correct, it is meant for surface deployment in high seas or in rescue situation. Open bottom just to give you one other option to inflate the tube with your second stage on the surface just in case you are having troubles doing it with orally.

Use the right size tool for the right job. Big size isn't the right size here.

 

[rongoodman]

I wanted to fully inflate a 16ft dsmb because I want it to stay up on the surface and I don't want it lying on the water surface.

I purchased a 16ft dsmb because I don't want to get hit by a boat, I want people to see me 100% and want to make sure no one on the boat has a larger dsmb than I do.

Assuming you can get the thing full of air, how much weight do you think you'll need to hang on it in order to keep it standing upright on the surface. Toss it and buy something reasonable. (I like the slim six footer from Halcyon.)

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I use a 36 inch DSMB from depth. For local and Great Lakes diving it's all I carry. Enough to let someone know I'm coming. Local and even Great Lakes you are moored to wreck, there's not much current or traffic (even a 16footer is not going to get a big lake freighter to stop of change course in enough time), and while you might get blown around on the surface if the wind kicks up, many boats won't even go out if it looks sporty.

If the conditions require it (open ocean with currents or chop), I'll inflate the 6ft one on the surface.

Agree with everyone else, that thing is nuts. Take it and sell it to a used car lot to flop around out front.

 

[Edward3c]

I wanted to fully inflate a 16ft dsmb because I want it to stay up on the surface and I don't want it lying on the water surface.

It doesn't matter how big or small a DSMB is once its on the surface it will lie flat, unless you put some tention on the line I used to have a fishing weight on the open end of my DSMB before I got a self-sealing one.

 

[rddvet]

You have the John Holmes of smbs

 

[Lorenzoid]

So, I've recently purchased a DSMB but I could never fully inflate it in water. I know I only need to get halfway full but even then I could not get it. So the DSMB was always flat on the surface and it is very very annoying. I tried the open end, using the LP hose but none of those works. The DSMB always brings me up before I can get halfway full. This DSMB has 130lbs of the lift so whatever I do I couldn't pull on it long enough until it gets inflated. Note: This DSMB is 3 times longer than a Halcyon and 6 times larger in volumes.

Size matters. It isn't clear to me from this whether you were already pretty skilled at deploying an SMB when you purchased this monster or whether you feel you are still learning to deploy an SMB regardless of size. If it's the latter, then practice using a smaller (that is, normal-sized) SMB until you can do it with ease. THEN attack the monster SMB.

When I was practicing the SMB deployment skill for GUE Fundies, I started with a 6-footer, found it difficult, and then bought a 3-footer just to practice with until I got it down. Then I moved on to the longer SMB.

If you're already an SMB pro and it's just the size of this one that's flummoxed you, please disregard.

 

[Miyaru]

...

Okay, okay.

Yours is bigger than mine

I can imagine it must be disappointing if you can't get it up.

 

[Centrals]

Keep the monster as a back up especially in remote places and get a 6'(self-sealed).

SCUBA Diving Accessories from AP Diving

Our range of SCUBA diving accessories & parts includes surface marker buoys (SMBs), lift bags, pocket reels, emergency air horns, buddy lines, valves & spares.

www.apdiving.com

 

[BoltSnap]

Okay, okay.

Yours is bigger than mine

I can imagine it must be disappointing if you can't get it up.

You just have to know how to fondle it to get up and stiff.

 

[Wibble]

The primary purpose of the SMB is to indicate to people on the surface that you're underneath the bag. Blobs lay down on the surface. They're only vertical when you tug on them -- dangling below negatively buoyant. Girth is just as important as length -- ask any skipper looking around for a blob in any kind of sea. It goes without saying that it needs to be pretty much full on the surface too.

(Checks forum...) We're discussing Technical diving, not recreational stuff where there's a short time between putting up a bag and arriving at the surface; we're talking about people decompressing under them which may well be well over an hour under the SMB. You shouldn't be doing your decompression obligation under a tiny bag.

Other uses for SMBs are as lift bags; possibly resting that bag of scallops or the gold bars, or as emergency buoyancy should your wing & drysuit fail. These all require substantial amounts of buoyancy which a training blob won't provide.

Thus... what's the point of an itty bitty training SMB aside from training? Why would anyone dive with a small SMB?